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Concealed weapon license applications are increasing by ten thousand a month, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida is on track to have more than a million concealed license holders by this fall.

It is Woman’s Wednesday at this Wakulla County gun range. This week, there were two first-timers.

“It’s to protect myself, learn to shoot it properly, the right way, and be safe,” first time visitor Shalia Chinnery said.

Reporter: How’d you like it?

“It’s good,” Chinnery said. “The gun has a lot of kick, so I’m trying to get used to steadying my hand.”

In Florida, 952 thousand people have a concealed weapons license. The state is expected to become the first with a million permits by the end of the year.

Since a high-profile murder here three years ago, more than 1500 people have come through this range for a concealed weapons permit.”

Nearly a thousand people have paid a yearly fee to join  this range since the death of Sunday school teacher Cheryl Dunlop.

“If it’s you or them, I’d rather it be them,” gun range instructor Freddie Bright said.

What makes the range unique is that it’s owned and operated by the local sheriff.

“It’s the county’s range, and the citizens of the county should be able to use it,” gun range supervisor Lt. Fred Nichols said.

Cathy Watson, who is also a first-time user, says what see and everyone using the range has in common is the desire to protect themselves.

“Things are just getting bad, and you just never know if you might end up having to use it,” Watson said.

Only half the range was in use by the women this Wednesday, but by the weekend it will be full.